Explore essential EC2 instance types and cloud pricing models with this concise quiz, designed to reinforce your understanding of compute resources, workloads, and cost-effective deployment options. Learn key distinctions to make informed decisions about cloud infrastructure for varying business needs.
Which EC2 instance type is typically selected for balanced workloads, such as small web servers and development environments?
Explanation: General Purpose instances offer a balanced combination of CPU, memory, and network resources, making them suitable for a wide range of standard workloads, like web servers and development tasks. Memory Optimized instances are ideal for applications that need more RAM, not general use cases. High Storage is focused on workloads requiring significant disk space. Compute Bound is a misleading term and does not represent a recognized category.
Which pricing model allows you to pay for compute capacity by the hour or second with no long-term commitment, perfect for unpredictable workloads?
Explanation: On-Demand pricing charges users only for the time resources are actually used with no upfront payment or commitment, offering flexibility for variable or short-term workloads. Reserved instances offer discounts for committing to a long-term contract. Spot pricing allows users to bid on unused capacity, but may be interrupted. Dedicated Host provides physical server access and is not a specific pricing model for temporary needs.
A startup wants to run data analytics jobs that can be interrupted and restarted without issue. Which EC2 pricing model would be most cost-effective in this situation?
Explanation: Spot Instances are ideal for workloads that are flexible and can handle interruptions since they utilize spare capacity at deeply discounted rates. On-Demand Instances give full control but cost more. Reserved Instances require a long-term commitment and advance payment. Prepaid Instances is not an official pricing model and does not apply here.
When is it appropriate to choose a Memory Optimized instance, as opposed to a General Purpose instance?
Explanation: Memory Optimized instances are tailored for memory-intensive applications like high-performance databases and caching solutions that require significant RAM. Hosting a static website or simple scripts does not require extra memory and would be more cost-effective on General Purpose instances. Basic batch processing usually doesn’t need substantial memory either.
What is a primary advantage of choosing a Reserved Instance for a steady, long-term application workload?
Explanation: Reserved Instances offer significantly reduced hourly rates in exchange for a commitment over a certain period, making them cost-effective for predictable workloads. Changing instance types is limited and requires modifications; it’s not a default feature. Guaranteed uptime depends on many factors and is not specific to the purchase type. Some Reserved Instances require partial or all upfront payment.
Which scenario is best suited for selecting a Compute Optimized EC2 instance type?
Explanation: Compute Optimized instances provide powerful CPU performance, making them ideal for tasks such as scientific modeling that involve extensive computations. Storing backups mainly needs storage resources. Streaming video focuses on bandwidth and media delivery, while hosting a simple blog is a light workload not needing compute specialization.
What should you be prepared for when choosing Spot Instances for your workload?
Explanation: Spot Instances use spare capacity and can be interrupted by the cloud provider with short notice, suiting only fault-tolerant workloads. The pricing is variable and can fluctuate based on supply and demand, not always low or fixed. Dedicated access is provided by dedicated host options, not Spot. Spot instances do not guarantee uninterrupted runtime.
Which EC2 instance type would you consider for running high-speed, high-transaction databases or big data storage workloads?
Explanation: Storage Optimized instances are built for applications that require fast, substantial local storage, such as large databases and big data analytics. GPU Optimized is intended for parallel processing and graphical workloads. Network Optimized is not a typical category, and General Purpose may not scale with high storage demand.
If your organization needs to meet strict licensing or compliance requirements by using physical hardware that is not shared with other users, which deployment option should you choose?
Explanation: Dedicated Host provides an entire physical server, meeting needs for licensing or compliance by ensuring hardware isolation. Spot and On-Demand are both virtualized environments that may be shared with other users. Reserved Instances refer to a pricing model, not the physical isolation of resources.
Which pricing model enables you to secure the lowest prices for compute capacity in exchange for commitment, making it unsuitable for spiky or unpredictable workloads?
Explanation: Reserved Instances provide the lowest cost per hour by requiring a fixed commitment over a period, perfect for steady workloads but not suitable for sudden or changing usage patterns. Spot Instances offer savings but are better for flexible workloads. On-Demand suits unplanned or variable needs yet is pricier. Floating Instance is not a recognized pricing model.